Coleus plant named &#39;UF12-30-6&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘UF12-30-6’ is a new coleus plant distinguished by having consistent chartreuse-colored leaves with excellent lateral branching and growth habit, and desirable late-flowering characteristics, as disclosed herein.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Solenostemon scutellarioides

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘UF12-30-6’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of coleus plant named ‘UF12-30-6’. ‘UF12-30-6’ originated from an open pollination conducted in May-November 2011 in Gainesville, Fla. between the female coleus plant ‘UF11-4-13’ (unpatented) and an unknown male coleus plant. The first asexual reproduction was performed in May 2012 in Gainesville, Fla. by vegetative cuttings using a single seedling (see FIG. 1 for pedigree).

‘UF12-30-6’ has been reproduced asexually for over one year through vegetative cuttings and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

‘UF12-30-6’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

When ‘UF12-30-6’ is compared to the female parent ‘UF11-4-13’, ‘UF12-30-6’ has large, deep, chartreuse-colored leaves with no other distinguishing markings, while ‘UF11-4-13’ has smaller leaves colored lime green with leaf veins irregularly colored deep magenta.

When ‘UF12-30-6’ is compared to the commercial cultivar ‘Lifelime’ (unpatented), both plants have chartreuse foliage, but ‘UF12-30-6’ has a deeper, more vibrant color, particularly when grown in full sun, while ‘Lifelime’ is known to fade. Leaves on ‘UF12-30-6’ are also distinguishable from those on ‘Lifelime’ because they remain pure in color, while ‘Lifelime’ leaves often have the presence of red colored imperfections due to genetic instability, likely due to epigenetics or an active transposon in ‘Lifelime’. Leaves of ‘Lifelime’ are more rounded at the base of the leaf than ‘UF12-30-6’, while ‘UF12-30-6’ has a more pointed distal tip and more deeply lobed serration pattern along the leaf edge. Although not considered to be completely resistant, when grown in the greenhouse, ‘UF12-30-6’ has been observed to have more tolerance to downy mildew (Peronsospora sp.) than ‘Lifelime’. ‘UF12-30-6’ also has a more vigorous and more spreading growth habit with more lateral branching than ‘Lifelime’, thus providing more vegetative propagules for producers and more dense foliage cover for gardeners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of ‘UF12-30-6’ when grown under normal horticultural practices in Gainesville, Fla. ‘UF12-30-6’ has a novel vigorous, spreading growth habit, late season flowering, excellent heat tolerance, and consistent deep chartreuse leaves that are significantly different than other coleus plants. It has superior foliage color stability in both sun and shade conditions, maintaining consistent color in all conditions. It has a vigorous spreading growth habit with excellent lateral branching when grown as a stock plant, thus providing ample vegetative propagules. This plant has not been observed to set a significant number of flowers in any trial to date. Thus, it is desirable for long-season performance in the landscape, as coleus plants that set seed usually experience late-season leaf drop, thus reducing their desirability in the garden.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new coleus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs, which show the plant's form and foliage. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. FIGS. 2 and 3 were taken of 9-week-old plants grown from cuttings in 1-gallon pots during September-November 2013 in greenhouses in Gainesville, Fla. FIG. 4 was taken in May 2014 of 3-month-old stock plants at a nursery in Carleton, Mich.

FIG. 1—shows the pedigree of the claimed plant.

FIG. 2—shows the growth habit, form, and foliage of the claimed plant.

FIG. 3—shows a close-up of the foliage.

FIG. 4—shows foliage of UF12-30-6 (left) compared to ‘Lifelime’ (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of coleus variety ‘UF12-30-6’. The detailed description was obtained using 9-week-old plants from cuttings growing in a glass greenhouse in Gainesville, Fla. in late fall 2013. The plants were pinched 2 weeks after cuttings were rooted, then grown in 1-gallon pots for approximately 9 weeks. Color references are to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 2007 5th Edition.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Lamiaceae.         -   Botanical.—Solenostemon scutellarioides.         -   Common name.—Coleus.         -   Cultivar name.—‘UF12-30-6’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘UF11-4-13’.         -   Male parent.—Open-pollinated. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Spreading.         -   Habit.—Upright.         -   Height (from top of soil).—34 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—48.5 cm. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cuttings.—Vegetative meristems having at least 1 node.         -   Time to initiate roots.—3-4 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—7-10 days.         -   Root habit.—Fibrous.         -   Root description.—Callus forms in 2 to 3 days, roots             initiate in 3-4 days and become a highly branched cutting in             7-10 days. -   Branches:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—6 main branches per plant with numerous             side branches, pinched once.         -   Branch color.—RHS 144B.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Pubescence.—Non-descript.         -   Stem description.—Square-shaped stem, 1.5-2.0 cm in diameter             at the soil line.         -   Branch diameter.—0.6 cm at the base of a 26-cm-long branch.         -   Branch length.—24-26 cm.         -   Internode length.—3-5 cm.         -   Anthocyanin.—N/A. -   Leaves:     -   -   Quantity of leaves per branch.—16 Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Fragrance.—Not fragrant.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Length.—11-13 cm.         -   Width.—7-9 cm.         -   Apex.—Broadly acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Sinuate.         -   Leaf texture (both surfaces).—Slightly pubescent upper             surface; smooth lower surface.         -   Pubescence color (both surfaces).—Non-descript with naked             eye.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 145C Lower surface: RHS             145B.         -   Venation pattern.—Upper surface: Reticulate Lower surface:             Reticulate.         -   Color.—Immature leaf: Upper surface: RHS N144B Lower             surface: RHS 150B.         -   Color.—Mature leaf: Upper surface: RHS N144A Lower surface:             RHS 145A.         -   Petiole length.—3-5 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—0.2-0.3 cm.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 144B. -   Flowers and seeds: Flowers and seeds have not been observed. -   Fruit/seed set: Fruit/seed not observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: Insect resistance is typical of the     species, thus no claims are made of any superior insect resistance     with this cultivar. The most common insect pests observed on this     plant in Gainesville, Fla. have been long-tailed or citrus mealybugs     (Pseudococcus sp.), which occur on older stock plant material held     in the greenhouse for over 3-4 months. Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus     (Bunyaviridae) has also been observed in plants confined in     greenhouses with mixed crops (peppers) infected with Western flower     thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis). The most common pathogen of     this species in the U.S. is downy mildew (Pernonspora sp.), and this     plant possesses better tolerance to this pathogen than other similar     cultivars in the trade (e.g., ‘Lifelime’). 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Solenostemon scutellarioides called ‘UF12-30-6’ as shown and described herein. 